Drive for converters, rotary trommels, plate conveyors and the like

ABSTRACT

Drive for converters, rotary trommels, plate conveyors and similar machines having a machine foundation and a machine shaft or a transmission drive shaft includes a large gear mounted on the shaft and disposed in a vertical plane, at least four pinions in meshing engagement with the gear at given engagement points along the periphery thereof, the pinions being mounted in pairs on respective pinion carriers, one of the carriers being located below the horizontal central plane of the gear, and link members connected to the machine foundation and extending parallel to tangents to the periphery of the gear located at the engagement points, respectively, each of the pinion carriers being individually supported independently of the gear, by the link members, for universal movement relative to the foundation.

United States Patent 11 1 Schroder 1451 Sept, 18, 1973 DRIVE FOR CONVERTERS, ROTARY TROMMELS, PLATE CONVEYORS AND THE LIKE Primary Examiner-Charles J. Myhre Assistant Examiner-F. D. Shoemaker Attorney-Herbert L. Lerner et al.

[76] Inventor: Walter Schroder, Stemmansfeld l0,

Bochum-Sttepel, Germany 57] ABSTRACT Flledl J 1972 Drive for converters, rotary trommels, plate conveyors [21] APPL NM 265 284 and similar machines having a machine foundation and a machine shaft or a transmission drive shaft includes I a large gear mounted on the shaft and disposed in a ver- Foreign Application Data tical plane, at least four pinions in meshing engagement June 22, 1971 Germany P 21 30 781.3 w h he gear at given engagement points along the periphery thereof, the pinions being mounted in pairs on U-S- Cl- 74/606 R, 74/665 B, 74/665 D, respective pinion carriers, one of the carriers being lo- 74/665 E cated below the horizontal central plane of the gear, [51] int. Cl. Fl6h 57/02 and link members connected to the machine founda- [58] Field of Search 74/606, 661, 665 A, tion and extending parallel to tangents to the periphery 74/665 B, 665 D, 665 E, 410 of the gear located at the engagement points, respectively, each of the pinion carriers being individually References Cited supported independently of the gear, by the link mem- UNITED STATES PATENTS bers, for universal movement relative to the founda- 3,167,975 2/1965 Durand 74/665 B 3,548,678 12/1970 Phillips 74/665 8 7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 1 1 e O! I/O 6 l l l l 7 PATENTEU SEP] 8 I975 SHEU10F4 I PATENTED SEP] 8 i973 SHEET 2 OF 4 FIG. 3

FIGJ.

PATENTEU SE?! 8 7 SHEET 3 BF 4 FIG. 6

PATENTEUSEPI 81975 SHEET '4 0F 4 FIG. 7

DRIVE FOR CONVERTERS, ROTARY TROMMELS, PLATE CONVEYORS AND THE LIKE The invention relates to drive for converters, rotary trommels, plate conveyors or similar machines and, more particularly, to such drive wherein a large gear is mounted on the machine shaft or the transmission drive shaft.

In accordance with a previous non-anticipated proposal, the pinion carrier is supported, indepently of the large gear, on the machine foundation by link members for universal movement, as by a ball-and-socket joint, relative to the machine foundation. to operate such a drive, each pinion can be provided with an attachable transmission and a motor.

It is an object of the invention to provide drive for converters, rotary trommels, plate conveyors or similar machines which is an improvement over the aforementioned, heretofore-known drive in that is can transmit even greater torque.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided in accordance with the invention, drive for converters, rotary trommels, plate conveyors and similar machines having a machine foundation and a machine shaft or a transmission drive shaft comprising a large gear mounted on the shaft and disposed in a vertical plane, at least four pinions in meshing engagement with the gear at given engagement points along the periphery thereof, the pinions being mounted in pairs on respective pinion carriers, one of the carriers being located below the horizontal central plane of the gear, and link members connected to the machine foundation and extending parallel to tangents to the periphery of the gear located at the engagement points, respectively, each of the pinion carriers being individually supported,independently of the gear, by the link members for universal movement relative to the foundation.

in accordance with a further feature of the invention, another of the pinion carriers is located above the horizontal central plane of the gear.

In order to simplify the assembly of such a drive, according to another feature of the invention, the pinion carrier located above the horizontal central plane of the gear is supported by respective link members on the pinion carrier located below the horizontal central plane, and only the latter pinion carrier is connected to the machine foundation.

In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, in addition to one pinion carrier being located below the horizontal central plane of the gear, another pinion carrier i.e. the pinions thereof, are located within the horizontal central plane, and the one pinion carrier located below the horizontal central plane is suspended therefrom.

The aforementioned feature of supporting a pinion carrier for universal movement on a secnd pinion carrier, and to fasten only the second pinion carrier to the machine foundation so as to be movable in all directions relative thereto offers the possibility of providing a drive with six pinions. Thus, in accordance with yet another feature of the invention, six pinions are mounted in pairs on three pinion carriers, respectively located above, below and within the horizontal central plane of the gear, the pinion carriers located above ad below the horizontal central plane being supported by the respective link members on the pinion carrier located within the horizontal central plane, and only the latter pinion carrier being supported by the respective link members on the machine foundation.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention the pinion carriers in which the pinions are mounted simultaneously form parts of the transmission housing, the upper pinion carrier being formed of the cap and the lower pinion carrier of the trough of the transmission housing, while the pinion carrier disposed within the horizontal central plane is formed of an intermediate member of the transmission housing.

In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, the individual pinion carriers respectively fonning parts of the transmission housing and movable independently of one another are connected oil-tightly to one another but otherwise independently and freely movable relative to one another, in order to ensure adequate lubrication of the pinions.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in drive for converters, rotary trommels, plate conveyors and the like, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is an end view of one embodiment of a drive constructed in accordance with the invention, which has four pinions and wherein each pinion carried is supported on the machine foundation;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along the line A-B therein;

FIG. 3 is an end view of another embodiment of the four-pinion drive of FIG. li, wherein the upper pinion carrier is supported on the lower pinion carrier;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are views similar to FIG. 3 of yet another embodiment of the drive wherein the lower pinion carrier is suspended from the upper pinion carrier;

FIG. 6 is another view similar to those of FIGS. 3 to 5 of a further embodiment of the four-pinion drive of the invention wherein the upper and the lower pinion carriers are braced against a common intermediate carier; and

FIG. 7 is an end view of another embodiment of the drive which has six pinions.

In the various figures of the drawings, like members are identified by the same reference numerals.

Referring now to the drawings, and first particularly to FIGS. I and 2 thereof, there is shown therein a large gear I, such as is mounted on a machine shaft or transmission drive shaft of a converter, rotary trommel, plate conveyor or the like. Pinions 2 mesh with the large gear 1 above the horizontal central plane of the latter, as viewed in FIG. I, and pinions 3 mesh therewith below the horizontal central plane. The pinions 2 are mounted in a pinion carrier 4", and the pinions 3 are mounted in a pinion carrier 5. By means of link members 6, the pinion carrier 4 is supported on the machine foundation 7, and by means of link members the pinion carrier 5 is likewise supported on the machine foundation 7. The link members 6 and 7 are articulatingly connected at the respective ends thereof to the pinion carriers 4 and 5 and to the foundation 7 for universal movement as with ball-and-socket joints.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the pinions 2 and 3 are again meshing engagement with the large gear 1. The pinions 2 and 3 are mounted in the pinion carriers 4 and 5, respectively. In this embodiment the pinion carrier 4 is supported by the respective link members 6 on the lower pinion carrier 5, and only the latter is supported with the aid of the link member 9 on the foundation 7.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the pinions 2 and 3 mounted in the pinion carriers 4 and 5, respectively, also mesh with the large gear 1. However, in this embodiment the lower pinion carrier 5 is suspended by the link members 10 from the upper pinion carrier 4, and only the latter is supported by the link members 11 on the machine foundation 7.

The embodiment of FIG. 5 is similar to that of FIG. 4, with the sole exception that the upper pinion carrier 4 is disposed symmetrically to the horizontal central plane of the large gear ii.

In FIG. 6 the upper pinion carrier 4 and the lower pinion carrier 5 are braced or supported by the link members 12 on a common intermediate carrier 13 which is in turn, connected by standras or link members 14 to the foundation 7.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the drive of the invention having six pinions and wherein the upper pinion carrier 4 and the lower pinion carrier 5 are supported on a common intermediat ecarrier 13, as in the embodiment of FIG. 6. The embodiment of FIG. 7 differs from that of FIG. 6, however, in that the common intermidiate carrier 13 is constructed as carrier for a third pair of pinions 15.

I claim:

1. Drive for converters, rotary trommels, plate conveyors and similar machines having a machine foundation and a machine shaft or a transmission drive shaft comprising a large gear mounted on the shaft and disposed in a vertical plane, at least four pinions in meshing engagement with said gear at given engagement points along the periphery thereof, said pinions being mounted in pairs on respective pinion carriers, one of said carriers being located below the horizontal central plane of said gear, and link members connected to the machine foundation and extending parallel to tangents to the periphery of said gear located at said engagement points, respectively, each of said pinion carriers being individually supported, independently of said gear, by said link members for universal movement relative to the foundation.

2. Device according to claim 1 wherein another of said pinion carriers is located above the horizontal central plane of said gear.

3. Drive according to claim 2 wherein the pinion carrier located above the horizontal central plane of said gear is supported by respective link members on the pinion carrier located below said horizontal central plane.

4. Drive according to claim 1 wherein another of said pinion carriers is located within the horizontal central plane of said gear, and said one carier located below said horizontal central plane is suspended from said other pinion carrier.

5. Drive according to claim 1 including six pinions mounted in pairs on three pinions carriers, respectively located abvoe, below and wihtin he horizontal central plane of said gear, the pion carriers located baove and below said horizontal central lane being supported by the respective link members on the pionng carrier located within said horizontal central plane, and only the latter pinion carrier being supported by the respecgive link members directly on the machine foundation.

6,. Drive according to claim 5 wherein said pinion carrier form parts of a transmission housing, the pinion carrier above said horizontal central plane forming a cap, the pinion carrier below said horizontal central plane forming a trough, and the pinion carrier within said horizontal central plane forming an intermediate memer of the transmission housing.

7. Drive according to claim 6 wherein said pinion carriers are movable freely relative to and independently of one anohter, through connected oil-tightly to one another.

k 1F k t De "d September 18, 1973 Invcntor (s) WALTER SHCRODER thaterror appears in the aboveid entified patent hat said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below It is certified and Westdeutsche Getriebe-und Kupplungswerke GmbH- In the heading to the printed specification, there sheul d be included I -Ass'ignee:

Signed and sealed this day of April (SEAL) Attest:

MARSlULLL DAMN Commissioner of Patents EDWARD 14.5 TChERJR. Attesting Officer 

1. Drive for converters, rotary trommels, plate conveyors and similar machines having a machine foundation and a machine shaft or a transmission drive shaft comprising a large gear mounted on the shaft and disposed in a vertical plane, at least four pinions in meshing engagement with said gear at given engagement points along the periphery thereof, said pinions being mounted in pairs on respective pinion carriers, one of said carriers being located below the horizontal central plane of said gear, and link members connected to the machine foundation and extending parallel to tangents to the periphery of said gear located at said engagement points, respectively, each of said pinion carriers being individually supported, independently of said gear, by said link members for universal movement relative to the foundation.
 2. Device according to claim 1 wherein another of said pinion carriers is located above the horizontal central plane of said gear.
 3. Drive according to claim 2 wherein the pinion carrier located above the horizontal central plane of said gear is supported by respective link members on the pinion carrier located below said horizontal central plane.
 4. Drive according to claim 1 wherein another of said pinion carriers is located within the horizontal central plane of said gear, and said one carier located below said horizontal central plane is suspended from said other pinion carrier.
 5. Drive according to claim 1 including six pinions mounted in pairs on three pinions carriers, respectively located abvoe, below and wihtin he horizontal central plane of said gear, the pion carriers located baove and below said horizontal central lane being supported by the respective link members on the pionng carrier located within said horizontal central plane, and only the latter pinion carrier being supported by the respecgive link members directly on the machine foundation.
 6. Drive according to claim 5 wherein said pinion carrier form parts of a transmission housing, the pinion carrier above said horizontal central plane forming a cap, the pinion carrier below said horizontal central plane forming a trough, and the pinion carrier within said horizontal central plane forming an inteRmediate memer of the transmission housing.
 7. Drive according to claim 6 wherein said pinion carriers are movable freely relative to and independently of one anohter, through connected oil-tightly to one another. 